Packaging System with Tamper Evidence/Child Resistant Latch

ABSTRACT

A system of a tamper evidence/child resistant latch device and an enclosure is disclosed. The latching device and the enclosure will remain separate to each other as items that can be “attached” to each other to become as “one item” only when the enclosure such as a bag and/or a blister pack is packaged with a commodity. The system requires “hand-resistance” to break a “seal” to gain access to the commodity. The “seal” aligns with a matching “internal hook” so designed that must be hand-broken to gain access to the commodity. A commodity having a value and not considered as dangerous to a child, can provide new security levels. The system requires the dexterity of two hands, as a “capacity” belonging to an adult, but would be difficult for a child.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT. Not Applicable (d) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC. Not Applicable (e) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of packaging methodology that specifies a “latching device” associated with an “enclosure” such as bags, boxes and/or blister packs for packaging commodities determined or classified as dangerous to a child as specified or required by regulatory authorities requiring “Child-Resistant” Packaging.

2. Description of Related Art

There is a problem for those who manufacture, cultivate and/or distribute commodities requiring child-resistant packaging to comply with state and/or federal regulatory codes. When choosing an enclosure such as a bag, box and/or a blister pack, regardless of choice, the choices becomes very difficult to identify from the many types of enclosures available since they may, or may not, satisfy regulations that stipulates child resistant packaging. For example, present day child resistant “bags” mostly relate to some type of a bag zipper “lock” arrangement that remains attached to the bag that may or may not be CR certified. While the arrangement maybe declared “Child Resistant”, it will not, by any measure, be “Tamper Evident” since the intended end-user has no way of knowing if the enclosure had been opened prior to them receiving it. This is an on-going problem for a re-sealable “child resistant safety enclosure” for either bags, boxes and/or blister packs when packaged with a commodity that requires packaging meeting the provisions of the PPPA. While they may meet the requirements for Child resistance, by design and in general, they are not Tamper Evident when associated with a process to unlock or unlatch as a procedure to gain access to a package commodity. This then extrapolates to the fact that most present-day bags having a zipper with a locking arrangement to achieve a “Child-Resistance enclosure” have no built in “tamper evident” feature that indicates to the end user that the enclosure had been previously “opened” or tampered with. Specifically, there is little or no system in place to indicate that currently available enclosure such as bags, boxes and/or a blister packs had been previously opened the “first time” since, by design, they have no built in “tamper evidence” feature. More specifically, present day re-sealable child resistant enclosures, including bags, boxes and/or blister packs having no “tamper evidence” feature, present a significant risk that could present a danger, due to tampering, to an adult or child.

(f) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system has a latching device, which includes tamper evidence features that combines with an enclosure so designed to replace present day packaging methodology. The system specifies a commodity of choice that may or may not be dangerous to a child to be packaged within the enclosure to include a box, bag and/or a blister pack that will always , prior to attachment of the latching device, have a tamper evidence feature that is discernable to the end user if the system has been tampered with to gain access to the package therein as an enclosure of choice.

One primary aspect of the system as an invention, has an objective for the latching device to be “attached” to an “enclosure of Choice” to include but not limited to bags, boxes and/or blister packs having a “method” to be “latched” to each other. Un-latching by the end-user will require “hand-resistance” the “first time” to “unlatched” to gain access to a commodity as packaged within the enclosure and will require breaking of the “seal” associated with the latching device. Breaking of the “seal” will automatically be a “Tamper Evident” procedure in that the enclosure cannot be opened the first time without breaking the seal and a hand-resistant effort to un-latch the latching device that requires a “method” to provide a relatively easy “unlatching” procedure belonging to an adult when the enclosure is “latched” to the latching device. The “method”, as a procedure, would be complicated for a child by requiring a dedicated mindset, simultaneously coordinated with the dexterity of two-hands to “unlatch”. Whereas the coordination would not statistically belong to a child having intent to gain access to a commodity declared dangerous but would be acceptable to an adult having a commodity declared as valuable that that could or could not be declared as dangerous or non-dangerous.

Another aspect of the system having the latching device requiring the “method” as a procedure to “latch” and “unlatched” to the enclosure of choice, regardless of chosen type, has the purpose for the latching device to have a “first-time procedure to “unlatch” from the enclosure of Choice when packaged with a commodity declared dangerous to a child. The “method” would be “tamper evident” traceable to the “breaking” of the “seal” associated with the latching device, which requires mental and physical effort to “break” the “first time” that cannot be repeated as a the “second-time”.

Even another aspect of the system as an invention, is to increase an elevated complexity in terms of a mental and physical effort for a child to hand manipulate “unlatching” of the latching device as “latched” to any type enclosure of choice when packaged with a dangerous commodity. The complexity would be a required “hand resistance” to “unlatch” and open” the enclosure that requires a systematized procedures to perform that would be easy for an adult but difficult for a child.

Another aspect of the system is provide a new concept for packaging a commodity such as jewelry, cash and estate items that cannot be declared dangerous to a child but having a value to an adult requiring the security provided by the built in tamper evident feature of the system.

A further aspect of the system as an invention is for the enclosure regardless of type selected to include a bag, a box and/or a blister pack which each will be made from a strong tough material such as a polymer film so designed to be “Child-Resistant” to tear, destroy or obliterate by a child having a dedicated intent to obtain a dangerous commodity as packaged therein.

Even a further aspect of the system as an invention that specifies a “method” to provide a relatively easy “unlatching” procedure belong to an adult when the enclosure is “latched” to the latching device. The “method” as a procedure would be complicated to a child requiring a dedicated mindset simultaneously coordinated with a dexterity of two-hands to “unlatch” that would be relatively easy for an adult. The coordination would not statistically belong to a child having a dedicated intent to gain access to a dangerous commodity as packaged therein.

Another aspect of the system as an invention, whereas the enclosure, regardless of type chosen, is designed with “apertures” having a specific “hole-shape”. The “hole-shape” is always located in the vicinity of the open end of the enclosure regardless of type enclosure selected. In accordance with the concepts of this invention, the enclosure is so designed to facilitate “latching” and “unlatching” from the latching device requiring a “method” including a “systematized procedure” that would be easy for an adult. The procedure would be difficult to a child for which the Method has a dedicated intent to increase a child safety.

Even another aspect of the system as an invention, the latching device is designed with an built in “external tab” designed as a breakable “seal” that must be broken to open the enclosure of choice the first time. The “seal” aligns with or matches an “internal hook” and the “hook” is so arranged in a manner to match or align with an “aperture” associated with “top opening end” of the enclosure of Choice. This provides a “latching” and “unlatching” arrangement between the latching device and the enclosure which requires a “method” requiring a “systematized procedure” requiring a dedicated mindset with coordinated dexterity of two-hands to break the “seal” . The “seal” must be broken in order to depress the “hook” to “unlatch” the enclosure from the latching device. Accordingly, this “procedure” will indicate the commodity, as packaged in the enclosure, had not been tampered with from the time the enclosure has first been closed. Therefore any commodity packaged with the enclosure will remain “closed” and “sealed” the entire time until the enclosure is then “opened” by the intended “end-user”.

These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(g) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top right front perspective view of a system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top right front perspective view of a system according to the present invention with a different enclosure;

FIG. 3A is first in a series showing a method of installing a system according to the present invention for a package, which opens like a book with a latch device according to the present invention in position to attach to the package;

FIG. 3B is the second in the series of FIG. 3A with the latch device attached at the back;

FIG. 3C is the final in the series of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B with the latch device fully engaged;

FIG. 3D is first in a series showing a method of installing a system according to the present invention for a package, which opens at the top with a latch device according to the present invention in position to attach to the package;

FIG. 3E is the second in the series of FIG. 3D with the latch device attached at the back;

FIG. 3F is the final in the series of FIG. 3D and FIG. 3E with the latch device fully engaged;

FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of the latch device in the closed position;

FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along lines 4B-4B of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a top perspective view of the latch device in the open position;

FIG. 4D is a sectional view taken along the lines 4D-4D of FIG. 4C;

FIG. 5A shows a user depressing the “press here” and sliding the front portion of the latch device so that the locking head is released;

FIG. 5B shows the user pulling back on the front portion, releasing the latch device so that the package can be accessed;

FIG. 6 is a representation of manufacturing enclosures with through-holes to accept latch devices; and

FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 6 but adding an automatic through-hole punch.

(h) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 4, in a system according to the present invention, a latch device 12 has a tamper evidence feature, tab that combines with an enclosure 14 so designed to replace present day packaging methodology. The system specifies a commodity of choice that may or may not be dangerous to a child to be packaged within the enclosure to include a box, bag and/or a blister pack that will always, prior to attachment of the latch device, have a tamper evidence feature that is discernable to the end user if the system has been tampered with to gain access to the package therein as an enclosure of choice. In a system according to the present invention, latch device 12 further includes a front portion 16 with a press-here 18, which must be pressed in toward the enclosure and a back portion 20 on the back of the package with a locking head 22 so that latch device 12 must be slid sideways past locking head 22 while press-here 18 is still pressed in order to unlock latch device 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternative enclosure 24 is combined with latch device 12 in the same way as for enclosure 14 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3, FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show how to attach latch device 12 to enclosure 24, and FIGS. 3D, 3E and 3F show how to attach latch device 12 to enclosure 14. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3D, latch device 12 includes front portion 16 which is on the front of the enclosure, faced by a user, and a back portion 20 facing away from the user and having the male portions that extent into the through-holes 32 of enclosure 14 or enclosure 24. Back portion 20 in addition to locking head 22 includes a press-out 26 which is pressed out of the way with press-here 18. Permanent laches 28 attach to the edge of the enclosure. Each enclosure has through-holes to match locking head 22 and press-out 26.

Referring now to FIG. 4, FIGS. 4A and 4B show latch device 12 before being opened, showing tamper proof seal or tab 30 in a closed position. FIGS. 4C and 4D show press-here 18 pressing press-out 26 and breaking seal 30.

Referring to FIG. 5A, to open latch device 12 and access the contents of enclosure 14, a user 31 uses his or her left thumb to depress press-here 18 and push sideways to the left with the users right index finger, sliding the front member to where locking head 22 is released. Referring now to FIG. 5B, back member needs to be pulled back freeing enclosure 14 from locking head 22 and press-out 26.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, enclosures 14 are made by an automatic feeder from roll 34 of double material 36. Double material 36 is notched at separations 38. Through-holes 32 are punched out by punch 40. Referring also to FIG. 7, a punch press 42 is set to automatically punch out through-holes 32. The number otherwise is shown in FIG. 6

A system for packaging a commodity within an enclosure includes a latch device. The latch device and the enclosure will always remain independent to each other until a the commodity is within the enclosure. Through-holes are located on the top side of the enclosure, and the latch device aligns with the through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure, locking the enclosure when hand manipulated by an adult to an un-locked position giving access to a the packaged commodity. The unlocking procedure will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult.

The latch device includes a tamper evidence feature designed as a “seal” and, if broken, will give evidence that an attempt has been made to open the child resistant device to the un-locked position for the purpose of gaining access to a commodity as packaged within the enclosure.

In one preferred form, the enclosure includes a polymer resin that remains flexible in a manner having at least one resistant feature to manipulate in open position such as a zipper for bags and undercuts for a blister pack which regardless of type enclosure selected, each will have through-holes strategically located on top side of the enclosure by which to receive and accommodate the latching device.

The tamper evidence/child resistant latching device has located male members that match the enclosure strategically located through-holes that the latching device can be permanently attached thus providing a tamper evidence feature that directly aligns with a through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure and when hand manipulated to an un-locked position and removed will give access to a the packaged commodity that, by procedure and intent, will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult to manipulate.

The child resistant latching device including a tamper evidence feature that functions as a “seal” so that when hand-broken can or will facilitates opening of an enclosure that is packaged with a commodity that might be dangerous to a child for which as a procedure is certifiable under CFR Part 1700 (Poison Prevention Packaging).

In a system according to present invention, the latch device must be properly installed after the commodity is placed within the enclosure. Someone must properly install the latch device on the enclosure after the commodity is enclosed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is well adapted to attain all of the ends and objectives hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A system for packaging a commodity within an enclosure comprising in combination: a. a latch device, wherein the latch device and the enclosure will always remain independent to each other until a the commodity is within the enclosure; b. through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure, wherein the latch device aligns with the through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure thereby locking the enclosure, and when hand manipulated by an adult to an un-locked position giving access to a the packaged commodity by that procedure and wherein the unlocking procedure will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult; c. Wherein the latch device includes a tamper evidence feature designed as a “seal” and, if broken, will give evidence that an attempt has been made to open the child resistant device to the un-locked position for the purpose of gaining access to a commodity as packaged within the enclosure.
 2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a polymer resin that remains flexible in a manner having at least one resistant feature to manipulate in open position such as a zipper for bags and undercuts for a blister pack which regardless of type enclosure selected, each will have through-holes strategically located on top side of the enclosure by which to receive and accommodate the latching device.
 3. A system according to claim 2 including the tamper evidence/child resistant latching device having located male members that match the enclosure strategically located through-holes that the latching device can be permanently attached thus providing a tamper evidence feature that directly aligns with a through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure and when hand manipulated to an un-locked position and removed will give access to a the packaged commodity that, by procedure and intent, will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult to manipulate.
 4. A system according to claim 1 including the tamper evidence/child resistant latching device having located male members that match the enclosure strategically located through-holes that the latching device can be permanently attached thus providing a tamper evidence feature that directly aligns with a through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure and when hand manipulated to an un-locked position and removed will give access to a the packaged commodity that, by procedure and intent, will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult to manipulate.
 5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the child resistant latching device including a tamper evidence feature that functions as a “seal” so that when hand-broken can or will facilitates opening of an enclosure that is packaged with a commodity that might be dangerous to a child for which as a procedure is certifiable under CFR Part 1700 (Poison Prevention Packaging).
 6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the latch device further includes a front portion with a press-here that must be pressed in toward the enclosure and a back portion with a locking head so that the latch device must be slid sideways past the locking head while front portion is still pushed in order to unlock the latch device.
 7. A system according to claim 6 wherein after the commodity is placed within the enclosure someone must properly install the latch device on the enclosure. 